In another part of the forest...
An elderly man dressed in archaeological gear was observing a Parasect.
"This Parasect is well-developed, but it's far too common. I won't win the Bug-Catching Contest with this," he muttered. "I wonder if the traps I set earlier have yielded anything." He began walking toward the deeper part of the forest. He had set these traps days in advance, hoping to ensnare a powerful Bug-type.
Elsewhere, a young woman in a white lace dress held a parasol, accompanied by a Leavanny.
Leavanny's body was a soft cream color with bright red eyes. Two moon-shaped antennae sat atop its head, and its body was wrapped in a garment woven from leaves. Its leaf-blade hands had semi-circular notches, and its torso was long and slender.
Leavanny are maternal Pokémon. They use the sharp blades on their hands and sticky silk from their mouths to sew clothes out of leaves. They are also known to ferment fallen leaves to produce heat, keeping eggs warm.
"Leavanny, there are only common Bug-types here. Let's head deeper," the woman said. "That Bug Crystal is vital for my main team's development."
A man dressed as a ninja flickered through the trees, a Venomoth (Ariados) trailing him. If Feng Che were here, he would recognize this man as the Insect Pillar.
"Venomoth, nothing rare yet. Let's move to the heart of the forest," the Insect Pillar commanded.
Feng Che searched the forest for quite some time but found nothing suitable. Just as he was beginning to feel discouraged, he saw a cluster of Spewpa gathering together, bathed in the white light of evolution.
Spewpa looks like a small, fuzzy larva wrapped in a cocoon. Its head is round, colored in grey and brown, and its white body is covered in red, yellow, and grey powder. Though it doesn't look like a typical pupa, it belongs to that category. Its body surface is incredibly hard, and it scatters powder to defend itself.
Spewpa evolves very quickly—it's one of the fastest evolution lines in the world, Feng Che thought. And its evolution, Vivillon, has over twenty different wing patterns. Maybe there's a rare one in this batch.
Soon, the cocoons burst, and a flock of Vivillon took flight. They resembled colorful butterflies with beautiful wings and long antennae. Vivillon attack by flapping their wings to scatter scales or summon gusts of wind. The scales on their wings are said to release a scent that puts people at ease.
Feng Che observed the patterns: most were common, such as the Meadow, Garden, or Continental patterns. However, one slightly larger Vivillon caught his eye.
"A Sun Pattern Vivillon!"
Feng Che looked at the brilliant, sun-like orange patterns and felt a surge of luck. If a Vivillon engages in battle, its scales fall off, and its value plummets. I'll have to rely on my throwing technique to capture it cleanly. He tossed a Sport Ball with surgical precision.
"My God, look at that rare Vivillon!" an operator monitoring the drones exclaimed back at the town square.
"Whoa! A Sun Pattern? That could sell for a hundred million League coins!"
"I remember an Icy Snow pattern went for eighty million at the last auction. This one is even more valuable!"
The staff were buzzing with excitement. "But the trainer isn't battling it. Usually, the impact of the ball alone causes some scale loss, but look at that throw—it's like he's trying not to disturb a single hair."
In the next second, the ball clicked shut without a struggle. Feng Che had caught it. "With this Sun Pattern Vivillon, first place should be mine."
"All contestants have returned from the forest!" Mayor Hakke announced. "Now, we begin the judging phase. Our panel will score the captured Bug Pokémon based on rarity, condition, and development."
"To ensure fairness, we use a blind evaluation system. The owners' names won't be revealed until after the scores are posted."
One by one, the Poké Balls were placed on a 3D-scanning device that projected the Pokémon onto a giant screen for the crowd.
The first was a Beedrill. "A very well-developed specimen," Bugsy commented. "The trainer used a clever method—Hypnosis—to catch it without damage. Score: 84 points."
The next few were common: Spinarak, Ledyba, and Paras, scoring 26, 28, and 24 respectively. The crowd grew restless until a beautiful Beautifly appeared.
"Exquisite wings," Bugsy noted. "The trainer used silk to bind it, preserving most of its scales. A high-value catch. Score: 92 points."
The Insect Pillar, standing in the crowd, gave a cold snort of satisfaction. My Beautifly won't be easily beaten.
The judging continued until an Icy Snow Pattern Vivillon appeared. "A rare find! It's so elegant, like a muse from the heavens," Bugsy said enthusiastically. "However, the capture method was a bit rough—there are traces of silk on the wing edges. Score: 96 points."
The woman in the lace dress giggled softly. "My Vivillon is clearly the best."
Finally, it was Feng Che's turn. A brilliant, golden-orange Vivillon appeared on the screen, radiating a sun-like glow.
"Breathtaking," Bugsy whispered, adjusting his glasses. "A perfect Sun Pattern. I can practically feel the heat of the sun coming off those wings. And the capture... it's flawless. Not a single scale is out of place. It's a masterpiece."
The judges consulted briefly before coming to a unanimous decision: 100 points.
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